Widespread Monitoring of Soil-Transmitted Helminths

Stephen Sowerby of the University of Otago in New Zealand has developed a quantitative cell-phone-based diagnostic and will test its ability to detect and monitor soil-transmitted helminth infections (intestinal worms), which are the most common infections worldwide. Quantitative monitoring of infection is crucial for evaluating therapeutic agents to combat the increase in drug resistant parasites. The approach simplifies current diagnostic methods by processing stool samples so that they can be digitally imaged and transmitted via cell phone for remote diagnosis, and is therefore likely to be cheaper and more accessible to developing countries.